Cabinet decides to extend PHEC Ambulance service

The cabinet on Tuesday has given the nod to extend the Pre Hospital Emergency Care (PHEC) Ambulance Service in Sri Lanka considering its successful operation in the country, cabinet spokesman, Lands and Parliamentart Reforms Minister Gayantha Karunatilaka said..

This service was launched in Western and Southern Provinces with GVK EMRI Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and assistance of Indian Government on July 29, 2016 and as of April, 2017 it has responded to 236, 000 calls with an average responding time of 12.52 minutes. It has transported 130 - 135 patients daily, he added.

Considering the success of this project, the proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs to provide funds to continue this project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

A National Loan Centre for small and medium scale entrepreneurs will be set up on a proposal made by Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera for resolving the difficulties faced by small and medium scale entrepreneurs in obtaining loan facilities, he said.